Defiance of the Fall

Chapter 891: One's Path

Zac spent the next day studying the methodology behind the re

“This- This... What is this?!” Vai exclaimed as she looked with wide eyes at the array of treasures.

“Just some things I picked up while adventuring,” Zac smiled. “Most of these things are pretty useful for making a push for Hegemony. Take one as a small thank you for helping me with this. You can't imagine how valuable your insight is.”

“I cannot accept this,” Vai urgently said, almost looking afraid as she looked at the priceless treasures. “Hegemony, is- is. I don’t…”

“If you don’t, I’ll feel bad and won’t be able to concentrate on my cultivation,” Zac sighed with a sorrowful expression. “And even if you don’t need these things, what about your little niece? She should be looking toward the next stage by now, no? What if she just lacked one little treasure to take that step...”

“That’s-“ Vai whispered, looking visibly distraught by the hypothetical scenario. “I’ll take the [Kastron Root] then. It helps strengthen one’s corporeity before breaking through, to better withstand the process. With your terrifying constitution, it should be useless.”

Zac was about to answer, but a powerful ripple suddenly slammed into his mind. One moment, he had been teasing Vai. The next moment he was swept up by the unfathomable depths of the Left Imperial palace. Every cell in his body screamed in both fear and longing, and it felt so, so close. The Undrusian Ocean was forgotten, as was Heart Cultivation and the [Boundless Vajra Sublimation].

In front of the ancient monolith he saw in his mind's eye, it all amounted to nothing.

Finally, the vision faded without him being brought into the Ultom Courtyard, and Zac found himself back in his body. He shot to his feet as he wildly looked around him, trying to understand what had just happened.

“Ah- I’m sorry! I won’t take it!” Vai urgently said as she scrambled back, shocked by Zac's explosion of movement.

The scared cry startled Zac enough to clear his head, and he apologetically looked at the little researcher as he retracted his billowing aura. "No, I'm sorry. Something unexpected just happened, and I lost my composure."

"Is everything alright now?" Vai hesitated.

“I don't know..." Zac muttered. "Something changed, and I’m not sure if it’s good or bad.”

"Is it the Heart Cultivation?" Vai stammered. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have urged you to take that risk. I-"

"No," Zac smiled as he threw over the previously unnamed root that Vai wanted. "My heart is just fine. Here, take this thing before I forget."

"Alright," Vai nodded as she carefully stowed away the jade box. "Thank you for this. I'll give it back if my niece doesn't need it."

"Sure," Zac grinned, knowing he'd never take it back.

With that, Zac walked back to his training room, a scowl covering his face. He stared at the cave wall like he wanted to peek through the bedrock and spy on what was going on. Why had he suddenly received a pulse out of nowhere? Not only that, but it was more potent than the one he felt when stepping onto this Mystic Realm.

Was the piece of rubble he aimed for on the move? Or had it been claimed by someone else? If so, what would that entail? Could he snatch it back? Would he still get an epiphany if he got it that way? The spacious cave suddenly felt suffocating as their hidden sanctuary turned into a prison. Anxiety gnawed at him, and even hours later, he found it hard to focus on his Heart Cultivation.

He had been too confident in the piece of rubble after seeing Kuru Cera being turned into motes of ash from a simple ripple, satisfied that the seal's lethality would be enough until he reached it. The question was whether it was all too late, even if someone had managed to contain it somehow. Could the situation be salvaged? Zac wasn't sure, but his eyes turned to the hidden entrance to the cave.

Surely, the Beast Kings would have fallen asleep by now?